Is it just me......Always overbudget

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Replies

  • Rubie81
    Rubie81 Posts: 720 Member
    Single mom, raising two kids in NYC. Always broke. But my bills are paid so I am happy :).
    Pisses me off when I see the ex renting a Mustang Convertible or buying some ridiculously expensive bedroom set, or spending $150 dollars on a pair of jeans, or $300 on his new watch for that month. I'm like :noway: How about you buy YOUR kids some clothing.
  • maab_connor
    maab_connor Posts: 3,927 Member
    You wind up spending more money in the long run when you buy cheap shoes. It's better to invest a good amount of money for good shoes than keep buying new ones over and over again.

    THIS.

    sometimes it is LESS expensive to buy quality.

    and for some work enviornments, they notice what shoes you're wearing and promotions are based on the image you're presenting. that would make cheap shoes REALLY expensive.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I live in Michigan and I can vouch for the fact that you North of the Border types come here by the bus full to buy clothing because it is so expensive in Canada. But then, you can also look at a good pair of shoes for work as an investment too. They last longer and look better.
  • Charlie003
    Charlie003 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Single mom, raising two kids in NYC. Always broke. But my bills are paid so I am happy :).
    Pisses me off when I see the ex renting a Mustang Convertible or buying some ridiculously expensive bedroom set, or spending $150 dollars on a pair of jeans, or $300 on his new watch for that month. I'm like :noway: How about you buy YOUR kids some clothing.

    I bought 5 pairs of $7.00 jeans at walmart 4 years ago. And still wear them in perfect condition.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    No matter how hard I try, I am always over budget. Need this, that, and the other thing. I do not spend carelessly, but things just keep coming up............Who can save money in today's world........

    :sad: Every time we *almost* get ahead, something happens, the truck breaks down, someone has to go to the doctor, a bill is unusually high....it's always something different. It really sucks. Sometimes I just have to say fvck it! :smokin:
  • determinedbutlazy
    determinedbutlazy Posts: 1,941 Member
    O.k. Why everyone hating on the shoes. That is not the point of this thread. But maybe I will go to work tomorrow in sandals. See how that works out. Or better yet, billy boots. Now how many of you ever spent money on things like jewelry, purses, etc...for me that is a waste. Spending $100 on your hair. I shave my own. Going to get your nails done. Make up..............

    Not gonna work, I cut my own hair, I do my own nails, I own one satchel and one backpack. The only "jewellery" I own is the stainless steal stuff punched through various parts of me.

    I'm sorry, if your "taste" means you go over budget, that sucks, but don't tell me you NEED shoes that cost $150. You don't. Buy synthetics.
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    We put 15000.00 per year in our 401k, 10 grand in roth IRAs and 4 grand in our hsa FIRST. All of this goes out before we spend a dime. This is how we save money.

    We also have drive old cars. My car is a 1998 and his truck is a 2000. We pay off our credit cards every month and we do not buy it if we can not afford to pay it off. I do not buy people expensive presents to make them think I am wealthy, I start shopping for Christmas in June, buying a few presents at a time so I do not have the stress of trying to get it all done nor the worrying about not being able to eat in January because of the bill.

    I have a spreadsheet with the food I buy at Costco. I mark what we need and we buy from there. I shop the sale at our local grocery store and make my list from the internet vic special list that comes out every Wednesday. I outlet shop, my handbags, clothes and shoes are many times last season, some times even 2 seasons ago.

    I buy 150.00 shoes because I DO NEED them. I am 44 years old and a runner with a bad back. Those shoes save me from having to wake up at night in full on back spasms. But I try to buy last years model when ever I can to save 50 bucks or so.

    I recommend to anyone reading the book The Millionaire Next Door. It gives great hints on how to save money.

    I also recommend spending money on things you need and like, not to impress other people. Ego is one of the main reasons this nation is in the state it is in. If you cant afford to pay it off people, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD IT. Living on credit because you think you deserve something is ridiculous. You deserve it if you earn it, you earn it by being able to pay for it the day you buy it, period.
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    I can't seem to leave the produce section of the grocery store for under $60...
  • DoomCakes
    DoomCakes Posts: 806 Member
    O.k. Why everyone hating on the shoes. That is not the point of this thread. But maybe I will go to work tomorrow in sandals. See how that works out. Or better yet, billy boots. Now how many of you ever spent money on things like jewelry, purses, etc...for me that is a waste. Spending $100 on your hair. I shave my own. Going to get your nails done. Make up..............

    I never will understand the point of girls going to a salon to get a mani, pedi, etc. for 40+ dollars. I paint my own nails, it's not rocket science!

    And shoes that are 150? Well, sure I could go to walmart and buy a cheap 25 dollar pair, but the thing is I'll be right back at walmart in 2-3 months spending another 25 dollars. In one year that's about 150 right there. But the shoes I bought from an outlet before, a bit pricey, but they lasted me YEARS! It was a win win there. Sometimes you have to spend a bit extra to prevent maintenance. That, and 150 for a decent pair of work shoes that will last for a man, not so shabby.

    Besides, it doesn't sound like you're a burger flipper trying to buy prada. Sounds like you're a business man or office man buying office shoes. So not like you're trying to go out of your means, just sucks when you have these out of pocket expenses that strike up out of nowhere!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Though... gotta say... $150 on a pair of shoes? wtf man? I've never spent more than $60. Do you have champagne taste on a beer budget? :wink:

    Good shoes sometimes cost that much. Once in a blue moon, as long as they're made well (and they damn well better be), it's a good choice.

    I spend about $35 on a pair of shoes. They tend to last me two years or so.

    ETA: Unless they are dress shoes, in which case I only spend about $20 and they last me about a decade.
  • Though... gotta say... $150 on a pair of shoes? wtf man? I've never spent more than $60. Do you have champagne taste on a beer budget? :wink:

    Those are the cheapest shoes where I live. In canada.

    Yay, socialism.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    Here is an example. Shoes for kids $150.00 School fees $200, birthday presents for other kids $75.00 come on! New shoes for me $150.00 Needed them.
    Next year, budget for these things.
  • JLgettinghealthy
    JLgettinghealthy Posts: 39 Member
    Ego is one of the main reasons this nation is in the state it is in. If you cant afford to pay it off people, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD IT. Living on credit because you think you deserve something is ridiculous. You deserve it if you earn it, you earn it by being able to pay for it the day you buy it, period.

    amennnn
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    O.k. Why everyone hating on the shoes. That is not the point of this thread. But maybe I will go to work tomorrow in sandals. See how that works out. Or better yet, billy boots. Now how many of you ever spent money on things like jewelry, purses, etc...for me that is a waste. Spending $100 on your hair. I shave my own. Going to get your nails done. Make up..............

    I never will understand the point of girls going to a salon to get a mani, pedi, etc. for 40+ dollars. I paint my own nails, it's not rocket science!

    And shoes that are 150? Well, sure I could go to walmart and buy a cheap 25 dollar pair, but the thing is I'll be right back at walmart in 2-3 months spending another 25 dollars. In one year that's about 150 right there. But the shoes I bought from an outlet before, a bit pricey, but they lasted me YEARS! It was a win win there. Sometimes you have to spend a bit extra to prevent maintenance. That, and 150 for a decent pair of work shoes that will last for a man, not so shabby.

    Besides, it doesn't sound like you're a burger flipper trying to buy prada. Sounds like you're a business man or office man buying office shoes. So not like you're trying to go out of your means, just sucks when you have these out of pocket expenses that strike up out of nowhere!

    Skip Walmart. Try Famous Footwear or Carnival.
  • smtillman2
    smtillman2 Posts: 756 Member
    You wind up spending more money in the long run when you buy cheap shoes. It's better to invest a good amount of money for good shoes than keep buying new ones over and over again.

    THIS.

    sometimes it is LESS expensive to buy quality.

    and for some work enviornments, they notice what shoes you're wearing and promotions are based on the image you're presenting. that would make cheap shoes REALLY expensive.

    I'm with you on this. It may seem crazy to spend $150.00 on shoes but if you only have to replace them every few years it's a good investment. I've also worked in places where you have to present a certain type of image. It's expected in someplaces.
  • DoomCakes
    DoomCakes Posts: 806 Member
    We put 15000.00 per year in our 401k, 10 grand in roth IRAs and 4 grand in our hsa FIRST. All of this goes out before we spend a dime. This is how we save money.

    We also have drive old cars. My car is a 1998 and his truck is a 2000. We pay off our credit cards every month and we do not buy it if we can not afford to pay it off. I do not buy people expensive presents to make them think I am wealthy, I start shopping for Christmas in June, buying a few presents at a time so I do not have the stress of trying to get it all done nor the worrying about not being able to eat in January because of the bill.

    I have a spreadsheet with the food I buy at Costco. I mark what we need and we buy from there. I shop the sale at our local grocery store and make my list from the internet vic special list that comes out every Wednesday. I outlet shop, my handbags, clothes and shoes are many times last season, some times even 2 seasons ago.

    I buy 150.00 shoes because I DO NEED them. I am 44 years old and a runner with a bad back. Those shoes save me from having to wake up at night in full on back spasms. But I try to buy last years model when ever I can to save 50 bucks or so.

    I recommend to anyone reading the book The Millionaire Next Door. It gives great hints on how to save money.

    I also recommend spending money on things you need and like, not to impress other people. Ego is one of the main reasons this nation is in the state it is in. If you cant afford to pay it off people, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD IT. Living on credit because you think you deserve something is ridiculous. You deserve it if you earn it, you earn it by being able to pay for it the day you buy it, period.

    I like you. That's how I feel. I don't have a single credit card, and I don't intend to start. I had ONE credit card, ONCE. I opened it just for the 10% saving on the item, then paid it off same day in cash. Haha.
  • MissKalhan
    MissKalhan Posts: 2,282 Member
    Those are the cheapest shoes where I live. In canada.

    :noway: Wow, do you guys get paid more than we do in America I wonder?

    I call BS, I live in Canada and my brand name runners were on sale for 89 dollars. Try again?
  • Ego is one of the main reasons this nation is in the state it is in. If you cant afford to pay it off people, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD IT. Living on credit because you think you deserve something is ridiculous. You deserve it if you earn it, you earn it by being able to pay for it the day you buy it, period.

    amennnn

    absolutely. our nation needs a little bit of personal responsibility.
  • blushingmama
    blushingmama Posts: 111 Member
    Can you use coupons in Canada?

    I shop sales and use my coupons.

    Kids stuff eats up our budget like crazy. We have 3 and there's always one needing new sporting equipment or some pricey thing.

    It's the kids, I'm telling ya! I wouldn't trade them for the world but they are some costly investments!!!
  • jrbb03092
    jrbb03092 Posts: 198 Member
    Though... gotta say... $150 on a pair of shoes? wtf man? I've never spent more than $60. Do you have champagne taste on a beer budget? :wink:

    Those are the cheapest shoes where I live. In canada.

    Yay, socialism.

    I live in Canada too. In Toronto. And I could easily find shoes - nice ones, for work, in an office, with suits and everything - for under $150 and I have feet that are really hard to fit.

    edited to add to OP: that said, I understand what you mean. It always seems like there's something. We budget really well, save a fair bit, have no mortgage because we paid it off as quickly as we could, have stuck to one car and there's *always* something. A school event, a party, a wedding, an extra car repair, etc.
  • DoomCakes
    DoomCakes Posts: 806 Member
    You wind up spending more money in the long run when you buy cheap shoes. It's better to invest a good amount of money for good shoes than keep buying new ones over and over again.

    THIS.

    sometimes it is LESS expensive to buy quality.

    and for some work enviornments, they notice what shoes you're wearing and promotions are based on the image you're presenting. that would make cheap shoes REALLY expensive.

    I'm with you on this. It may seem crazy to spend $150.00 on shoes but if you only have to replace them every few years it's a good investment. I've also worked in places where you have to present a certain type of image. It's expected in someplaces.

    ^ This. Sure, I can come in to work wearing a cheap walmart shoe, and have, but a- they wear down faster, and b- you can tell the level of profession. That'd be like me showing up to work in khaki pants and a polo shirt compared to slacks and a blouse. This post was NEVER meant to grill the guy about shoes. It's about unexpected costs. Besides, how do you know his shoes were not 3-4 years old and just worn out to the point he needed a new pair? Sheesh. I'm sure a lot of people grilling him on his shoes have spent way too much on a hair cut, nails, went to the mall to buy shirts/pants because it was the name brand etc.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    How did our parents ever make it with one income.
    We are a single income family feeding 3 teenage boys- (**I knew we should have started a food savings fund 15 yrs ago!**)
    but we make it work.
  • Josee76
    Josee76 Posts: 533 Member
    O.k. Why everyone hating on the shoes. That is not the point of this thread. But maybe I will go to work tomorrow in sandals. See how that works out. Or better yet, billy boots. Now how many of you ever spent money on things like jewelry, purses, etc...for me that is a waste. Spending $100 on your hair. I shave my own. Going to get your nails done. Make up..............

    In your next thread tell them you have sore feet when you run.... they will all tell you to properly get fitted. You will go to the running room, get fitted and leave with a pair of $150 shoes!!!!! Which you will then be told to replace every 6 months if you put in a good amount of mileage; but because your thread would be about being injured the cost would be justified... YOU CAN'T WIN in these forums!

    I agree with you.... good shoes cost money!!!
  • Charlie003
    Charlie003 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Ego is one of the main reasons this nation is in the state it is in. If you cant afford to pay it off people, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD IT. Living on credit because you think you deserve something is ridiculous. You deserve it if you earn it, you earn it by being able to pay for it the day you buy it, period.

    amennnn

    ummm righhhtttttt. If I had ego, I would buy the $!80 and up. I asked for the cheapest. You guys are funny.
  • ErinBeth7
    ErinBeth7 Posts: 1,625 Member
    Ego is one of the main reasons this nation is in the state it is in. If you cant afford to pay it off people, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD IT. Living on credit because you think you deserve something is ridiculous. You deserve it if you earn it, you earn it by being able to pay for it the day you buy it, period.

    amennnn
    Ouch. So I shouldn't have bought a $40,000 education? (only a bachelors) That wasn't ego. It was determination.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    How did our parents ever make it with one income.

    That's a whole new topic! :wink:

    Inflation is kicking our *kitten*!
  • steph0924
    steph0924 Posts: 78 Member
    Yes, us too in my household. We both work full time. We pinched pennies for years. Now my hubby works his full time job plus 3 part time jobs just to feel like we get ahead. His full time job is a firefighter. He works PT for two different ambulance districts and then is a high school football referee. We have saved all that money. I know extra jobs can't always be worked (I couldn't do it b/c I am supporting the kids and house while he works so much), but that is the only way we aren't up a creek and it is unfortunate. I do not have time to clip coupons or anything like that either. They make it sound so simple, but you know they are putting hours into it each week and I do not have the luxury of that time right now. It is hard to pay for those big expenses, but maybe set just a little aside each month where you won't touch it even if it is $15.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    O.k. Why everyone hating on the shoes. That is not the point of this thread. But maybe I will go to work tomorrow in sandals. See how that works out. Or better yet, billy boots. Now how many of you ever spent money on things like jewelry, purses, etc...for me that is a waste. Spending $100 on your hair. I shave my own. Going to get your nails done. Make up..............

    In your next thread tell them you have sore feet when you run.... they will all tell you to properly get fitted. You will go to the running room, get fitted and leave with a pair of $150 shoes!!!!! Which you will then be told to replace every 6 months if you put in a good amount of mileage; but because your thread would be about being injured the cost would be justified... YOU CAN'T WIN in these forums!

    I agree with you.... good shoes cost money!!!

    You are so right! I got in an argument with a guy one time about it. :laugh:
  • mabug01
    mabug01 Posts: 1,273 Member
    Shoes and food are really just nickel and dime stuff. On a consistent basis, the most expensive part of living is whatever you are paying in rent or mortgage. I had to dial-down my neighborhood expectations to stay above water when I was raising my children. Almost everyone goes through the lean years, but after the kids are on their own and your needs become less because you don't really want as much stuff in your life, you will reach a place where money seems to be available to you. It happens to all of us. Your time is coming, so hang in there. And, I should add that I didn't start getting ahead until I began to put a little bit of money in a savings account every paycheck. It was only $20 a month to start, but it did seem to change my relationship with money for the better. Good luck!
  • Josee76
    Josee76 Posts: 533 Member
    O.k. Why everyone hating on the shoes. That is not the point of this thread. But maybe I will go to work tomorrow in sandals. See how that works out. Or better yet, billy boots. Now how many of you ever spent money on things like jewelry, purses, etc...for me that is a waste. Spending $100 on your hair. I shave my own. Going to get your nails done. Make up..............

    In your next thread tell them you have sore feet when you run.... they will all tell you to properly get fitted. You will go to the running room, get fitted and leave with a pair of $150 shoes!!!!! Which you will then be told to replace every 6 months if you put in a good amount of mileage; but because your thread would be about being injured the cost would be justified... YOU CAN'T WIN in these forums!

    I agree with you.... good shoes cost money!!!

    You are so right! I got in an argument with a guy one time about it. :laugh:

    I am not one to get in a tizzy in these forums but come on guys!!!!!! Go run 10 miles in your $30 Wal Mart shoes and I'd like to see your next post upon your return!

    I just don't get it! The OP is a male... chances are this pair of $150 work shoes will last him the next 8 years!!!!!!